Mixing Concrete for a Shower Base

by Andrew Leahey

All parts of a shower pan must slope toward the drain.

The base of a shower, sometimes called a shower pan, is the floor of the shower. It needs to be waterproof and durable, which leads many homeowners to choose concrete as a base material. When mixing concrete for a shower base, there are a few things you should be sure to keep in mind.

Framing

Pouring concrete is a messy job. To prevent the material from spilling out all over your bathroom floor, a frame will need to be constructed around where you intend your shower base to sit. Use 2-by-10-inch framing lumber to make sure you have plenty of space to pour your concrete without having to be concerned with the material overflowing your frame.

Lath

Lath is material that is added to concrete to give it tensile strength. It is essentially metal mesh, not unlike chicken wire, that is placed inside the frame of the shower base before the concrete is poured in. Make sure you use the proper amount and type of lath for the concrete you have chosen to use for your shower base.

Set the Drain

The shower drain can be placed anywhere you wish. Some homeowners prefer a centered drain, while others place it in a back corner. The important thing is that you place your drain before you pour your concrete, and you make sure you slope the concrete toward the drain before it dries.

Tools and Preparation

Before you begin mixing your concrete, you should make certain you have all of your tools on hand. The slope of the concrete pan must be 1/4 inch per foot, toward the drain. The slope is created in the concrete after it is poured in the shower pan mold, using a cement trowel. Follow the instructions on the side of your concrete mix box or bag for mixing and err on the side of adding too little water to the mix, rather than too much.

Mixing the Concrete

When mixing the concrete for your shower pan, keep in mind where you are mixing the material and how you intend to get it into your bathroom. Making enough concrete to pour the shower base in one batch is fine as long as you can get the material into your bathroom. If space is an issue, opt for mixing several smaller batches and transporting them in to your bathroom in buckets or a small wheel barrow. The consistency of the concrete mix should be relatively dry, like wet sand.

About the Author

Andrew Leahey has been a writer since 1999, covering topics as varied as technology how-to guides and the politics of genetically modified organisms to African food supplies. He is pursuing his J.D. while renovating an 1887 farmhouse located in the New Jersey Pine Barrens.

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